(a)

1. (1) Statutory powers and duties. The Pulaski County Regional Solid Waste Management District Board of Directors shall have those duties and powers as set forth in Acts 1991, No. 752, codified at Arkansas Code § 8-6-704 and set out herein below.

2. (2) The board shall have the following powers and duties:

   1. (A) To collect, study, and initially evaluate the solid waste management needs of all localities within the Pulaski County Regional Solid Waste Management District, as provided in Arkansas Code § 8-6-716, and to publish their findings as a regional needs assessment;
   2. (B) To evaluate the solid waste needs of the district and thereby update the regional needs assessment as appropriate;
   3. (C) To formulate recommendations to all local governments within the district on solid waste management issues, and to formulate plans for providing adequate solid waste management;
   4. (D) To issue or deny certificates of need to any applicant for a solid waste disposal facility permit within the district except for permits for landfill when a private industry bears the expense of operating and maintaining the landfill solely for disposal of waste generated by the industry of a similar kind or character;
   5. (E) To petition the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission or Director of the Division of Environmental Quality to issue, continue in effect, revoke, modify, or deny any permit for any element of a solid waste management system located within the district based on compliance or noncompliance with the solid waste management plan of the district;
   6. (F) To adopt such rules pursuant to the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, Arkansas Code § 25-15-201 et seq., as are reasonably necessary to assure public notice and participation in any findings or rulings by the board and to administer the duties of the board;
   7. (G) To establish programs to encourage recycling;
   8. (H) To maintain an office at such places as it may determine;
   9. (I) To sue and be sued in its own name and to plead and be impleaded;
   10. (J) To make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient in the exercise of the powers and functions of the district, including but not limited to entering into contracts and agreements with private entities for provisions of services;
   11. (K) To establish and collect rents, fees, and charges as authorized by law; and
   12. (L) To carry out all other powers and duties conferred by Acts 1991, No. 752, and other applicable laws.

(b) Other powers and duties. The board may:

1. (1) Authorize the district to:

   1. (A) Apply for such permits, licenses, certificates, grants, or approvals as may be necessary or proper to construct, maintain, and operate any portion of a solid waste management system; and
   2. (B) Obtain, hold, and use such licenses, permits, certificates, grants, or approvals;
2. (2) Employ such engineers, architects, attorneys, real estate counselors, appraisers, financial advisors, and other consultants and employees as may be required in the judgment of the board and fix and pay their compensation from funds available to the district therefore;

3. (3) Purchase all kinds of insurance including, but not limited to insurance against:

   1. (A) Tort liability;
   2. (B) Business interruption; and
   3. (C) Risk of damage to property; and
4. (4) Issue licenses to persons engaged in the business of hauling solid waste.